Yes I am still here in the Amazon! This past year was full of challenges.
From the wedding of my daughter Neivy and Junior Santana in February to my return from the States in September, God's care and encouragement for me was evident.
After the wedding, I left for Bogota to receive a total hip replacement. The month of march was all about the surgery and recuperation. At the end of the allotted therapy sessions, my brother Lusire called to let me know that my father was in his last days so I decided to go to the States instead of returning to Leticia. Praise God that I made the right decision to got to the States. I arrived on March 30th and had a chance to talk with my Dad. A few days later on April 4th my new hip slid out of position and I was rushed to emergency. I praised God that I had come home to Michigan. If I had returned to Leticia I would have died. There is no technology in that region that could have handled my situation. God is Good! Then on April 8th my father went home to be with his Father. In the same week that we were burying my father, Benjamin (the boy who helped me raise money for the boat that I had when I lived in the jungle) also went home to be with the Lord at the young age of 17. His parents who support and counsel me on my Board of Directors and his younger brother along with many who loved him and were ministered to by his life grieve his loss but with joy because we know that we wll see each other soon when the trumpet sounds.
The summer months were filled with God's presence as I was ministered to by family and friends. Even though the recuperation and the emotional losses were challenging, God provided times of refreshing and healing as I got to spend quality time with camp friends and family. A special thanks to Huron Forest Camp CedarRidge for continuing to minister to boys, girls, teens and families. You have blessed me greatly! The National African American Mission Conference was also an encouragement to me as pastors and church leaders met in Virginia to plan and discuss ways to more effectively reach the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ through a network of organizations committed to helping one another in that task and vision that God has given each one. And last but not least, the opportunity to attend the virtual mission conference with the People's Community Baptist Church was a highlight of continual blessing.
The summer ended with an opportunity to share AFAMMS with a group of friends and family in the K.C. MO area, a new pastor in the Southwest Detroit, MI area and a celebration of my nephew and new niece Alexander and Felicia Boyd's wedding. AWESOME!!!!!
My niece Grace returned to Colombia with me to help me settle in and to get to know my life and ministry here in Leticia, Amazonas Colombia. We had a great time being tourist and she had an opportunity to minister in music with the Praise and Worship team. She was a real blessing to me as my body was adjusting anew to the life here in the Amazon.
After Grace left, my focus has been on strengthening my muscles for the next hip replacement in May 2023, discipleship of the churches under the covering of Pastor Julio Arley and Jenny Pacheco in Iquitos and Caballo Cocha Peru. I taught from my first discipleship manual that God placed in my heart to write. Sorry but, I wrote it in Spanish so it will not be available in English until I can get it translated. I will be returning to Caballo Cocha March 30, 2023 to teach a 4 day Praise and Worship Seminar. Please keep me in your prayers so that I may teach what is on God's heart with wisdom and creativity.
April 12th I will be returning to Detroit, Michigan in order to have the left hip replacement which is scheduled for May 11, 2023. After my time of recuperation, I pray that I will be able to visit with some of you before I return to Colombia September 19, 2023. Imagine! It has been a year since I have been able to send out a newsletter because of the almost non-existent internet service here in the Amazon. In the last month, it has finally improved. Yaaay!!! For those of you who have been able to keep up with my Facebook page, you are mostly up to date. Remember! Your prayers are making a difference in the Three Frontiers (Colombia, Peru and Brazil). Thank you!!!
Adventuring with Christ,
Min. Orchidy T Boyd
AFAMMS Execu. Dir.
Leticia, Amazonas Colombia
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